I was just out of
the service
thumbing through
the classifieds
When an ad that said
"Old Chevy"
somehow caught
my eye
The lady didn't know
the year
or even if it ran
But I had that
thousand dollars
in my hand
It was way back
in the corner
of this old
ramshackle barn
Thirty years of dust
and dirt on that
green army tarp
When I pulled the
cover off
it took away
my breath
What she called
a Chevy
was a sixty-six
Corvette
And I felt a little guilty
as I counted out
the bills
But what a thrill I got
when I sat
behind the wheel
I opened up
the glove box
and that's when
I found the note
The date was
nineteen-sixty six
and this is
what he wrote
It said "My name is
Private Andrew Malone
and if you're reading this
then I didn't
make it home...
But for every dream
that's shattered
another one
comes true
This car was once
a dream of mine
now it belongs to you
And though you may
take her and make
her your own
You'll always be riding
with Private Malone"
Well it didn't take
me long at all
and I had her
running good
I love to hear
those horses thunder
underneath her hood
I had her shining
like a diamond
and I'd put the
rag top down
All the pretty girls
would stop and stare
as I drove her
through town
The buttons
on the radio
didn't seem to work
quite right
But it picked up
that oldie show
especially late at night
I'd get the feeling
sometimes if I turned
real quick I'd see
A soldier riding
shotgun in the seat
right next to me
It was a young man
named Private
Andrew Malone
Who fought
for his country
and never
made it home
But for every dream
that's shattered
another one
comes true
This car was once
a dream of his
back when it was new
And he told me
to take her and
make her my own...
And I was proud
to be riding
with Private Malone
Then one night
it was raining hard
and I took the curve
too fast
I still don't
remember much
about that fiery crash
But someone said
they thought they saw
a soldier pull me out
They didn't
get his name
but I know
without a doubt
It was a young man
named Private
Andrew Malone
Who fought
for his country
and never
made it home
But for every dream
that's shattered
another one
comes true
This car was once
a dream of his
back when it was new
And I know
I wouldn't be here
if he hadn't
tagged along...
That night
I was riding
with Private Malone
Thank God
I was riding
with Private Malone